How to Fix Net at Your New Domicile

At a glance

A big stride toward feeling settled in your new identify is using all your old devices on Wi-Fi once more. Simply outset you need to set your internet connexion. Fortunately, it's never been easier to go a home Wi-Fi network up and running. There are 4 main steps to getting your new home online:

  1. Find an internet service provider (ISP)
  2. Install your equipment
  3. Set up your wireless network
  4. Connect your devices

These steps are pretty straightforward, but each one has its potential pitfalls. Let's take a closer look to make sure y'all check all the boxes.

Find internet prices for your new dwelling house

four steps to gear up your new cyberspace connection

1. Find an internet access provider

The about important factors in choosing your cyberspace provider are the following:

  • Availability
  • Speed
  • Reliability
  • Cost
  • Customer service

Availability tin narrow down your choices pretty fast. Our guide to finding cyberspace for your new dwelling can aid you quickly get the best options bachelor almost you lot. While some cities have a wide option of ISPs to choose from, smaller towns and rural areas may have only one or ii providers.

There are e'er other options like satellite internet, which tin can be used anywhere in the US. Using a cell phone every bit a mobile hotspot is also an alternative option, although we wouldn't recommend it for well-nigh people. Phone plans have much lower data caps and slower speeds than well-nigh traditional internet plans. For example, if you like bingeing Netflix afterward work, a hotspot plan is not the plan for you.

Speed is the factor that most people think of when choosing an internet plan, though it's a good idea to consider how much speed you actually need rather than going for the fastest, most expensive plan.

Reliability is oft just as important as speed. Certain types of connections, like fiber, are inherently more reliable than others. Cablevision and DSL often deliver slower speeds than advertised in certain situations, while satellite internet can exist disrupted by the weather.

Price seems pretty straightforward, but there are a lot of things that can be overlooked. Make sure to consider upfront costs like installation and equipment fees, which can be a big deal during an expensive movement. Also, be wary of plans with subconscious fees and price hikes. We like net plans with simple, transparent pricing.

Finally, consider client service. When there'due south a problem, you want it resolved fast. This is particularly important with less reliable types of connections. If yous're considering DSL, for example, make certain that the ISP offering the plan is known for fixing problems chop-chop and not letting their network fall into disrepair.1

The all-time internet service providers

If you're looking for a new internet service provider—perchance because you're moving—so check out our favorite ISPs.

2. Install your equipment

Once you've signed upwards for an internet plan, you lot need to install the equipment necessary to get your house continued to your provider'southward network. At that place are two means to do this. You can either pay for a professional technician to install your equipment, or y'all can install it yourself. At that place are good arguments for both choices, so let'southward accept a await at them.

Before we become started, it'due south important to note that if connecting your home to the cyberspace requires burial new cable or connecting to utility poles, you're going to need a professional installation. Additionally some ISPs require professional installation for some of their top-tier plans to make sure the equipment is installed properly. Be sure to bank check if self-installation is an option before you get started.

Professional installation

Professional installation is definitely the easier of the two solutions. This can exist peculiarly helpful if you're eager to get unpacked or dealing with other important bug with your new abode.

The downside is that professional installation can be expensive, especially if your firm isn't already wired for net, equally is the example in many older homes. This does, however, requite you the advantage of deciding where the connection enters your home. This means that you can take your modem and router in your office, every bit opposed to a bedroom or basement.

Professional installation usually takes a few hours, especially if the technicians are wiring your business firm for the first fourth dimension. The procedure is generally pretty smoothen, merely there are a few things y'all can do to speed it upwards:

  • Make sure that your computers, laptops, and smart TVs are unpacked and ready to exist connected to your network.
  • Don't identify boxes or furniture in front end of outlets.
  • If you accept devices on large desks or entertainment centers, make sure they're pulled out 3–5 feet away from the wall.
  • Keep your pets secured in areas away from where the technicians are working. This can include backyards if the technicians are installing new cables.
  • Make sure that you or some other adult can be present in the habitation throughout the installation.

Information technology's also a good idea to plan extra time around the installation in case the technicians come across whatever problems or show upward late. Cyberspace installation is not something you want to clasp into a peculiarly busy solar day.

Self-installation

Cocky-installation can seem daunting, especially for those without a technical groundwork, merely it'south usually pretty straightforward. Information technology can likewise relieve you a lot of coin, which tin exist a big relief afterwards dealing with moving costs.

There are a few steps to self-installation:

  1. Order your self-installation kit.
  2. Prepare your modem and plug information technology in to your internet connectedness.
  3. Connect your ability cable.

Your self-installation kit typically includes your modem and router (often one device, likewise known as a "wireless gateway"), a power cable, an Ethernet cablevision, and a cable to connect to the outlet (the type of cable depends on the type of connection you lot have). Brand sure that your kit has all the necessary parts before starting installation.

Most ISPs give you a unmarried device to serve every bit both modem and router, only if y'all take a separate router, connect it to your modem with an Ethernet cablevision.

Later on you plug it in, the online connexion lights should turn on one by ane. This ordinarily takes less than a minute with most devices, though in some cases it can take upward to 20 minutes.

Once the lights cease flashing, congratulations! Your home now has an internet connectedness. Now you only take to make it usable.

3. Gear up your wireless network

Most devices in your habitation, from your laptop to your smart TV to your thermostat, connect to your home network wirelessly. Many of these devices don't even have the connection to plug in a physical cable, so setting upwards a wireless network has become an essential step in getting your devices running.

Setting up your network tin can be divided into two parts: connecting to your router and setting up your network security.

Connecting to your router

Many modern routers have apps that allow you lot to command them from your telephone. If your router doesn't accept an app, yous tin can still ready it up the quondam-fashioned way. All yous need is a normal web browser and your router's IP address. Often, it's provided in your user transmission or printed on a sticker stuck to the router itself. If not, yous can always discover it yourself.

Connecting your router on a Windows machine:

  1. Open up the Control Prompt and type in IPCONFIG.
  2. The address you're looking for volition be listed as the "default gateway" and will consist of four numbers separated by periods.

Connecting your router on a Mac:

  1. Open your network settings.
  2. Select the "TCP/IP" tab
  3. The IP address will exist listed under "router."

Once you have the IP accost of your router, plug a device straight into your router using an Ethernet cable, then blazon that number into your browser to get to your router'southward security settings.

Set up your network security

Before y'all log in to your router, you will need your username and countersign. If y'all brought your router with y'all from your old abode, this will be the same username and password yous set up previously. If this is a new router, the default username and password volition either exist printed on the router (ofttimes on a sticker on the bottom of the box) or in the user manual.

One time you take the necessary information, setting upward your network security is like shooting fish in a barrel:

  1. Log in using your username and password.
  2. Change your network name (SSID).
  3. Prepare your security protocol to WPA2.
  4. Set up your new password.

Although y'all can simply use the defaults, we highly recommend changing both, equally it makes your home network much more than secure.

Your network name, frequently called its SSID, is what you and other people will see when searching for Wi-Fi networks in your surface area. Set information technology to something that you will instantly recognize when information technology pops up in the list.

WPA2 is the strongest type of security used on Wi-Fi networks, and information technology'southward sometimes labeled WPA2-PSK or AES. When setting your password, make sure that it's potent and memorable. Information technology'southward also a adept idea to make it a password that you don't mind giving out to guests that might want to use your Wi-Fi, so don't make information technology a password you lot've used elsewhere.

4. Connect your devices

If you've made it this far, you're in the habitation stretch! Your wireless network is up and running, and information technology's fourth dimension to offset connecting your devices.

Before yous get started, grab a phone or laptop to test your connection. Your wireless network should appear with the proper noun you set and yous should be able to log on with your new password. If everything'due south working, information technology's time to connect your other devices.

Remember that all the devices that were connected to your Wi-Fi in your old home will demand their network information updated to connect. This includes not simply computers and laptops but also any smart devices you might own.

Peter Christiansen

Written by

Peter Christiansen

Peter Christiansen has been working in tech for over xv years, working as a estimator programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities At present, and the New Statesman. He is currently finishing his PhD at the Academy of Utah.